Fabric and method of knitting



May 25, 1943.

IW. L. SMITH, JR

0D OF KNITTINQ 939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l Patente May 25, 1943 vmuren ,STATI-:s PATENT OFFICE FABRIC AND METHOD OF KNITTIN G William L. Smith, Jr., Pawtucket, R. I., assigner to Hemphill Company, Central Falls, R. I., a. corporation of Massachusetts Application September 1, 1939, SerialNo. 293,096

9 Claims.

This inven-tion involves improvements in knitted stocking top-s, for example, such tops lashave elastic yarn' incorporated therein and in which it is desired to knit a single edge having the elastic incorporated therein.

In the .figures of drawings:

Fig. 1 is a conventional showing of fabric, stitches shown greatly enlarged, illustrating one form of the invention;

Figs. 2 and 3 are similar views showing a second and third form of the invention; and

Fig. 4 is an elevation of a half hose to which the invention may be applied.

Referring to Fig. 1, several courses at the edge of a stocking top or similar knitted fabric are shown wherein an elastic yarn I is knitted on every fourth needle, being temporarily drawn into knitted stitches at wales 2, 3, 4 and 5 for one revolution of the machine. Then on the next revolution that same elastic yarn is drawn by every other needle, that is, in wales 2, 3, 4 and E and also intermediate wales 6, 1, B, etc. Then on the third revolution' of the machine said yarn is again drawn by every fourth needle only. Thereupon a course A is knitted from a non-elastic yarn 9. That yarn is knitted on all needles and thus appears as a knitted stitch at every wale of the fabric. elastic which was merely loaded on the needles, not being cast cti at-all, is cleared below needle latches and cast olf as course A is completed.

In knitting this fabric lt is preferable to employ a two feed machine such as described in St. Pierre Patent #2,131,720 and to knit the elastic yarn I at an auxiliary feed at which suitable selection is provided first to present every fourth needle and thereafter selectively to present every second needle. Thus it becomes possible to draw yarn at the auxiliary side on every fourth needle orion every other needle at will. The yarn 9 is fed and drawn into knitted stitches at the main side of the machine in a manner well known. It is to be understood that this initial loading up of needles herein shown as applied to three revolutions of the machinelmay extend for a smaller or greater distance.

After knitting course A the elastic I is again fed at the auxiliary sideto every fourth needle, but at the wales 2, l, 4 and 5, the stitches drawn of nonelastic yarn were not cleared of the latches so that the elastic knits with those stitches. Thereafter a course Bis knitted below yarn t at the main side of the machine whereupon the elastic I feeds at the auxiliary side being knitted with the previously drawn stitches At that time the previously'drawn in every fourth wale drawn at course B. Then a thirdcourse C is knitted from yarn 9.

The fabric as knitted through courses A, B and C with the included elastic may be continued for any desired distance whereupon the elasticyarn will be knitted independently on every other' needle at the auxiliary side and in a course desig nated at D. Then course E of yarn 9 is drawn at the main side knitting through independent elastic stitches drawn in course D and through non-elastic stitches in course C. Thisstarts the knitting of the remainder'of the stocking top 'or other fabric which is to be continued and it will be noted that the fabric as exemplified in courses D and E is the same as that described and claimed in said Patent #2,131,720.

In the description as just given courses were described as being independently drawn. That has been done for purposes of taking the steps one at a time, and it must be understood that in a two feed machine courses such as A, B and C and the included rubber are knitted continuously, that is, as course A is knitted at the main side the elastic is being taken and incorporated at the auxiliary side. The same applies with respect to courses D and E. Obviously, the initial loading of needle hooks with elastic occurs at the elastic yarn feed only. At that time the front stitch cam is preferably withdrawn at the main side so that there would be no casting oif at that point. The elastic is preferably fed under a minimum of tension as in said Patent #2,131,720 and in the Iselvage that elastic loaded within the hooks of needles will straighten out tending to bind selvage loops in course A and to draw they edge in to form more or less of a bead. The following courses A, B, C, etc., wherein the elastic is incorporated at every fourth wale will be drawn together as the elastic contracts as will the courses D, E, etc. However, the fabric in said courses A, B and C will draw into more pronounced corrugations or ribs and will tend to strengthen or stiifen the edge thereby to prevent it turning or rolling over.

Referring to Fig. 2, an elastic yarn I0 is first taken in the hooks of every fourth needle for two revolutions of the machine being drawn in wales II, I2 and I3 and is then taken in the hooks of those same needles for three more courses, and also, in the hooks of intermediate needles knitting wales I4 and I5. This takes place at the auxiliary side or feed and thus needle hooks are loaded up, every fourth needle with five loops of elastic and every second needle between those, with three loops. Then in course F a non-elastic yarn I 6 is fed to all needles immediately knitting in all wales and casting oi! the previously held v under a light knitting tension as in the rst example given. Knitting is preferably done on a double feed machine with elastic feeding at one side and the yarn I6 at the opposite side. After course F is completed courses D' and E' are knitted similarly to courses D and E, Fig. l. 'I'hat remainder of the top or other fabric. V

Referring to Fig. 3 a third form of top in which elastic is loaded on needles for a considerable number of revolutions is shown. Herein the elas- -tic yarn I'I is taken in the hooks of every needle being drawn for three consecutive revolutions' of the machine. At that point and at the main side of the machine, a non-elastic yarn I8 is fed to be knitted into independent loops in wales I9, 2'0, 2I etc., in course G. That is, yarn I8 is knitted on every fourth needle atvthe main side of the machine, for example, knitting off the three loops of elastic yarn I1 previously loaded in those needle hooks. All other loops which had been drawn are held. They continue to be held while in course H the elastic is fed to those same fourth needles and immediately knitsthrough the nontype of fabric may be continuedV throughout the y A stocking orv half-hose has been shown in Fig. 4 having a top 2B to which the invention may be applied. A bead is shown at 29 such as might appear at the edge when knitted in the manner described herein. The invention is defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A knitted stocking top havingl a selvage including a course of non-elastic yarn drawn into stitches at each Wale in the fabric and, threaded through sinker wales in said course of non-elastic yarn, a plurality of stretches of elastic yarn, some being threaded through every sinker wale and others through spaced sinkerwales only.

2. A lmitted stocking top having a selvage including a course of non-elastic yarn drawn into stitches at each Wale, elastic yarn incorporated in said course of non-elastic yarn stitches, said elastic yarn passing through every sinker Wale in at least oneinstance and in other instances, a plurality of stretches of said elastic yarn passing through spaced sinker wales only.

3. A knitted stocking top having a selvage in which an elastic yarn has been incorporated to be threaded through certain of the sinker wales therein to prevent ravelling, knitted fabric in extension of said selvage with elastic incorporated to be held therein under tension,.flrst at widely `,spaced wales through a plurality of courses andv elastic loops of course G. 'I'hen yarn I8 knits on every other needle in course I, knitting through the elastic loops just drawn in Wales I9, 20 and 2|, course H, and also through loops of loaded elastic in wales 22, 23, etc. Then in course J the elastic again knits and is drawn through lops which were drawn in course I. At

' this point yarn I8 is knitted on all needles in course K and knits through the last drawn loops of rubber completed at course J and also through the held or loaded elastic loops which have been retained on needles knitting in Wales 24, 25, 26, 21, etc. sinceV the completion of the first three revolutions upon which elastic yarn was loaded in the hooks of all needles. From the course K fabric is knitted as in courses D and E, Fig. 1.

In 'this form of the invention shown in Fig. 3 elastic is knitted under similar tension and Vby a similar machine to that described above. Additional control of a known type is provided so that at the main side every fourthv needle may be controlled to knit selectively and also a changemade so that every other needle may selectively yknit'. there. At the auxiliary side needles are controlled so that spaced or yarn if desired.

In each of the.v fabrics illustrated a selvage is all needles may draw produced wherein a great deal of elastic yarn is loaded within the hooks of needles priorto taking a non-elastic yarn and casting oif elastic to complete a non-ravel edge. Fabric of the type shown in Patent #2,131,720 continues from the completed selvage, but it is to be understood that 'other modifications of the same fabric or other types of elastic fabric may be knitted in conjunction with. one ofthe edges herein described and such is Within the scope of the invention` as originally conceived. The number of courses. of which elastic may be loaded in any of the described mannersmay be varied through certain limits Without departing from the original intent of the inventor.

thereafter being incorporated at relatively closely spaced wales for an extended portion of said fabric. v

4. A stocking top having a selvage including a course of non-elastic yarn drawn into loops at every Wale, a plurality of-stretches of elastic yarn being incorporated in said course, there being a plurality of said stretches of elastic threaded through sinker wales adjacent every fourth stitch and a plurality of stretches of said yarn threaded through all sinker wales in said course.

5. A method of knitting to strengthen the edge of a fabric containing elastic yarn including the steps of knitting an initial course and incorporating elastic therein to be threaded through sinker wales of that course and thereafter, incorporating elastic yarn to be held at spaced wales through an extent of fabric, first incorporating said yarn at relatively widely spaced wales and thereafter, at wales more closely spaced whereby the initial courses of said fabric will be characy terized by corrugationsas the elastic yarn con tracts drawing spaced wales of the fabric together. Y

6. A knitted stocking top having a selvage including an initial course of non-elastic yarn stitches and a plurality of stretches of elastic yarn incorporated in said initial course of non-elastic yarn stitches and in such a manner that some of the stretches of elastic yarn pass through all loops in said initial through spaced loops only.

7. A method of knitting to form a selvage including the steps of knitting an initial course from a non-elastic yarn and passing through all loops of said initial course, a plurality of stretches of elastic yarn in such a manner that some of said stretches of elastic yarnpass through all of the loops in said initial course while others pass through spaced loops only.

8. A circularly knitted seamless'stocking top having a selvage including elastic and non-elastic yarns, and including in combination an initial course of non-elastic yarn having a plurality of stretches of elastic yarn in excess of two strands .threaded through sinker wales thereof, the numcourse while others passl ber of said strands being at least enough so that their incorporation in the initial course constitutes a bead, and further, the construction being such that some of said stretches of elastic yarn are threaded through each sinker Wale in that initial course while others of said elastic strands are threaded through spaced ones only of said sinker wales.

9. A method of knitting a seamless stocking top to produce a selvage at the edge thereof includ- 1 0 ing the steps of forming an initial course of non. elastic yarn stitches and causing a plurality of stretches of elastic yarn to be incorporated in said initial course by passing some of the stretches of elastic yarn through all sinker loops in that initial course and causing other stretches of said elastic yarn to pass through spaced ones only of said sinker loops.

WILLIAM L. SMITH, JRf 

